2 hours with a christmas tree and a cone

[Garyh]

Isn`t it good to get some nice clear nights...
Not getting much sleep but enjoying every bit of dark sky I can!

Done this one on friday night of the very faint NGC 2264, cone neb and christmas neb, cluster area. Have never imaged this before and I had to go with long subs just to get the very brightest parts showing like the nose of the cone and the blueish reflection part! Could have framed it a bit better but I am quiet happy with it.. Lots of noise to remove so there`s a loss of the finer details ( how I wish for a real cooled camera...). Image has been really stretched heaps with curves, levels,contrast etc to bring it out..
Image is 14 x 8 min at iso 800..
Guided with a Toucam and PHD, stacked in DSS and processed in PS. I think this faint area would at least double that to get a real nice image!
All comments most welcome as to my colors etc...
cheers Gary

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

Wow!

[leon]

Gary that is some image, you can sure see the tree in that one, great effort.

Leon

[Alchemy (Clive)]

great effort gary, thats one tough object for the dslr guys, the star field shows shes tack sharp.

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

fantastic result there gaz. now i know why 2 hours

[Ric]

Lovely effort Gary, you have really done a fine job on a tricky subject.

Cheers

[Garyh]

Thanks Doug, Leon, Alchemy, Eric and Ric!
It is a tough object to get detail especially with a DSLR.
I would love to have another go later on this with even more time and a lower iso..
Thanks everyone and CS
cheers Gary

[iceman (Mike)]

Wow gary, great result. i was going to try this myself but now after seeing how difficult it is for a non-modded DSLR, I don't know if i'll waste my time I can just look at your great version.